Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-05-27

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South Sea Islanders.
0annibalism Still Practiced Frequently
Among the Warlike Natives.
The most popular ceremony practiced
by the natives OF New Britiau has been
rarely witnessed by white man, said q
traveller the other day to a san Francisco
Chronicle reporter. The Duk-duk is
supposed to be spirit which makes
its appearance at daybrcak Of the day on
which the new moon appears 1t in
variabIy comes from the sea, and as it
is daylight, two or three canoes with a
platform upon them, are seen coming to
the shore. The entire male community
Of the village awaits tn, coming on the
beach, seated in silence. o. the plat
form are two men leaping and shouting
and crying out In shrIll tones They
wear loose robe OF leaves woven to-
gethcr and reaching to the knees. On
their heads are conical-shapad hats, some
SIX feet high, from the rims Of which are
hung masks, entirely conccaling the fca-
lures. The masks have horrible looking
faces ainted upon them. The lower
portions Of the legs arc alone visible.
As the dress is supposed to represent a
cassowary, or New Guinea ostrich, with
a human head, the figures, upon landing,
execute series Of hopping steps il i'm
tation OF the bird. Meanwhile the natives
appear to be frightened. The Duk-duk
is to stay in the village fortnight, and
during that period he is at liberty to do
whatever he pleases. No woman is
allowed to look at him. In fact, as soon
as the canoe was sighted the women all
ran away to the bush. After dancing a
short time the Duk-duk goes into the
jungle and the natives move off slowly to
their homes.
"ln the evening i'm nense quantities of
cocoanuts, yams, taro and other food
are piled in the centre Of the village
square. AS each man brings his con-
tribution the Dull-duk dances around
him. If satisfied, he utters a shri cry
if displeased, the Individual receives a
tremendous blow with a club After
these food oiTerings arc conc,uled, the
ceremonies begin. A large bundle Of
canes about six feet long and as thick as
ones little finger were brought. Five
or six young men jumped up, and, hold
ing their arms high above thei- heads
reesfvees i.ssas~y '-ss-s--- s-r-z- .is'T~.ss,s
of canes, which were welded by the
Duk-duk. The canes curled around the
bodies, and at each stroke drew blood.
Other young men took their places,
going through the same ordeal. Some
times the Ddk-dul1 would vary the per
formance by strik ng with his club.
The ccremo nies were repeated for 10
days, and then the Oak -duks took their
departure. believe the origin and
meaning Of these peculiar ceremonies arc
that the old natives hold power over
the young men. The Duk-duk is always
said to belong to some old nun who
summons it out of the SEA. No one
knows who is actually dancing in dis.
guise, but they do know that if the old
men have ordered the Duk-duk to kill
any indiyidull the command will b,
obcycd without interference from any
one. Again. the old men, having be-
come dccrepit, cannot work in thcil
gardens, and the pies Of food offered tc
spirits comes into their possession.
although cannibalism is re ported by
missionaries to have died out among the
islands in the South seas it is far moro
common than generally imagined Ir
New Ireland l saw a big fight between
two villages, and after the battle tho
bodies of thoe who had fallen were
eaten. The bodies, after being sealded
in hot water, are scraped with a bamboo
knife by old women An old man cut
up the bodies, taking cure to keep Tho
thigh and sh bones, which are uscC
for spear heads. After being wrapped
in stout leaves, the dismcmbercl cada-
vers ere placed in ovens du; in The
ground, and in four days are rca ly fo
eating. The natives made no conceal
ment of their disgusting meal, and dur
ing the feast they held wild dane rs
and orgies. The preparation of sage
cocoanut and human brains is calico
sallsak, and is in great demand among
the women. The females seem to b,
more brutal and savage than the mel
/ during this cannibal BANQUET.